The Community Development Corporations Association of Greater Cincinnati held its annual awards celebration last week.

The ceremony, held at the Community Action Agency at Jordan Crossing in Bond Hill, recognized the achievements of community development corporations (CDC), city staff, bankers, developers, and local community volunteers in improving our region's neighborhoods.

This year's "Most Outstanding" winners were:

* CDC Executive Director: Sr. Barbara Busch, SC, Working in Neighborhoods. Busch founded the 30-year-old non-profit that has built or rehabbed and sold 137 homes to first-time, low-income homeowners - 55 of whom moved directly out of public housing. By negotiating fair lending agreements with lenders and loan servicers, WIN has protected 222 homes valued at $14.5 million.

* CDC Staffer: Jeanne Davis, Avondale Redevelopment Corporation and Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. As director of operations, Davis is responsible for maintaining the records and producing reports for both organizations. She has been with the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation since the 1980s.

* Project: Commons on Main, Mercy Housing. Mercy Housing is investing $14 million to revitalize 199 units in the old Franciscan Housing Development. So far, Mercy has completed renovations on 88 units and has done minor work on 35 more.

* Lender: Glenda Cousins, US Bank. US Bank has supported the City's Neighborhood Enhancement Program, providing $3,000 to each project neighborhood since the program began in 2007.

* Collaborative Effort: Neighborhood Enhancement Program, City of Cincinnati. This program combines concentrated code enforcement with stepped-up police patrols and community-based initiatives to make drastic changes in a neighborhood over a 90-day period, with the effects lasting long after the program has moved on. In addition to all of the participating City departments, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, the Job Corps, neighborhood organizations, and residents have all been part of the effort.

* City staffer: Ed Cunningham, City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections. When the City's Neighborhood Enhancement Program began in 2007, Cunningham helped Price Hill Will and Santa Maria Community Services create a task force with the Department of Buildings and Inspections and People Working Cooperatively to make sure that lower-income homeowners didn't slip through the cracks.

* City staffer: Jennifer Walke, City of Cincinnati Department of Community Development and Planning. Nominated by Sarah T. Allan of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing as an exemplary City employee.

* Consultant: Steve Percy, SPREC Services. A local hero for affordable housing, Percy was nominated for his detailed style and for his ability to guide the preparation of complex funding applications.

* Volunteer: Mel Williams, Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation board member. Williams was the founding president of the Walnut Hills Business Association and has been on the foundation's board for more than 15 years. He is well-known around the neighborhood, having managed the CVS drug store at Peebles Corner for more than 25 years.

Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis, who has successfully worked with the Ohio legislature on issues such as foreclosure, land banking, and vacated buildings, was the keynote speaker.

Title sponsor for the event was US Bank, and banner sponsors included National City Bank and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.